Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Mila
“Joelle, I’ll be back later. I really need to fix this damn sink. You good until Mara gets back?”
“Yep.” She nods, her ponytail bobbing. “I’m good. Just hope you don’t break it.”
Laughing, I head up the stairs to my apartment.
Cora’s been home now for a while, and Atlas is taking care of her.
They got engaged at Christmas, and while it’s not my place to judge, a part of me worries for her.
The other part is secretly happy for her.
My best friend came through hell and now has the love and devotion that so many people can only hope to experience.
They had a misunderstanding at Thanksgiving, and then she was attacked. I’m glad it’s all over.
It makes me think of Kash. I saw him at Christmas, but I avoided him like the coward that I am.
He was helping Emma, and I snuck out. I’ve been ignoring his messages for the last couple of days.
I don’t know what to say to him. I almost thought we could be something, but then everything happened with Cora, and the holidays kept us busy here.
I haven’t really had time to think, let alone message people back.
After opening my apartment door, I toss my keys on the table. I’m already sore from the long day yesterday, but I’ve been putting this off for months, and knowing my luck, it’ll flood my apartment before too long.
I check the box to make sure I have all the pieces and tools before I start tearing things apart. My dad offered to come do this for me, but after everything that’s happened, and the time he took off work, I don’t want to bother him.
Pulling everything out from under the cabinets, I notice the wood underneath is already damp.
Shit. I toss a towel down, then lie on my back, looking for the video that explains how to change fittings and pipes.
As soon as I hit play, my phone goes off with Future Husband flashing across the screen.
I nearly drop my phone, but in the process, my finger hits the key to answer.
“Hi, Sweetheart,” his deep voice murmurs.
Bumping my head off the floor, I inwardly groan. He sounds so sweet, but I’m not falling for his little nicknames. “What’s up, Kash?”
“What are you doing? I haven’t heard from you.”
“I’m busy.”
“With what?”
“Being a man,” I mutter as I glance at the pipe layout above me. The choking sound he makes causes me to laugh.
“It’s okay. I’ll still love you. But, um... can I ask how you’re being a man? Just for clarification?”
“I’m fixing a pipe in my kitchen,” I offer proudly.
“Is that so?”
“Yep.”
“And that makes you a man?”
Fighting at the smile trying to cross my face, I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Yep. I can fix it all by myself. Got the right part and all.”
“Interesting. Let me see.”
Pulling the phone away from my ear, I stare at it in confusion. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Sure it is. Open your door.”
Freezing, I glance around my kitchen from my current location. "You're not standing outside of it, are you?”
He pauses for a moment, then: “Why don’t you come see.”
Sliding out from under the sink, I quickly end the call. Looking at my reflection in the wall mirror, I check my appearance. It shouldn’t matter, but it does.
Opening my door, I internally swoon when I see Kash standing on the other side. His hair is pulled back, tattoos creeping up his neck and scalp, and he’s wearing dark jeans and a light blue hoodie that makes his eyes pop. The worst part? The stupidly handsome smile on his face.
“Hi, Sunshine. I can lay pipe for you.”
I attempt to glare at him, but it just doesn’t work. Laughing instead, I level him with a look. “Really? That’s the best you could come up with?”
Stepping past me into my apartment, he takes in the box and tools on the floor. He turns back to me and shrugs his broad shoulders. “Oh, I’ve got better material than that, but I knew it’d make you smile. Worth it.”
“Do you really know anything about plumbing?”
“Of course I do.” He scoffs in offense. “My dad had me help him a time or two around the house. I know my way around a wrench. Not just a pretty face I’ll have you know.” He winks.
“Mhmm. Sure. So, you can fix that with no problem?” I point toward the faucet that is still leaking, and the soaked cabinet under the sink.
“I sure can. Why don’t you let me work on this and you head downstairs?”
“And leave you alone in my apartment? I think not.”
Stepping closer to me, I get a brief hint of his cologne. Being this close to him sends a shiver through me. I was hoping he still wouldn’t have this effect on my body.
“Don’t you trust me?” he softly questions, a mischievous grin on his face.
“Absolutely not. How do I know you’re not going to snoop or go through my stuff?” I ask with a raised brow.
He tilts his head to the side, as if actually considering it. “Hmm. You might be onto something. I wouldn’t trust me either.”
“Let me help you with it at least,” I offer. “I found a video that tells you how to fix it.”
Nodding, he strips his sweatshirt over his head, careful not to snag his hair, leaving him in a short-sleeved black tee. Trying not to stare at the flash of skin and ink I see on his torso, I quickly avert my eyes. How much of his body is covered in ink?
“There we go. Wouldn’t want to get my sweatshirt messy.”
I watch as he lowers his large frame to the floor and tries to fit under my sink to work on it. I give it five minutes before he can’t figure it out.
“I can feel you staring at me.”
“I’m not staring.”
“So, are you just enjoying the show then?”
“You fixing my pipe is a show?” I ask with a very unladylike snort.
“Mhmm,” he murmurs without looking away from his task. “We’ll pretend you didn’t eye me up like a snack when I took my sweatshirt off. If you want, I can do more.”
I’m about to tell him he’s being ridiculous, because as much as I wouldn’t mind seeing the rest of that piece on his torso, I know better. My phone’s ringtone cuts me off. Seeing that it’s Joelle, I panic.
“Hey. What’s going on?”
“Mara got in and said you guys have an issue with a vendor. Can you come down here? It’s a bit busy out front, and Mara said it’s one of your supply guys, so she asked if I could call you real quick. Sorry.”
“No. It’s fine. I’ll be down in a second.”
Quickly hanging up, I tap Kash’s leg with my foot. “Behave yourself. I have to run downstairs for a few minutes to talk to Mara.”
Sliding out from under the sink, he sits upright and focuses his attention on me. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Something about one of our vendors and an issue. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.” He nods, leaning back down and shifting under the sink. “I got this. No worries.”
“Erm. Thanks, Kash. I owe you one.”
“Don’t worry, Sunshine. I’m here whenever you’re ready to let me cash that in.” He chuckles, “Cash, Kash. Get it?”
Even though he can’t see me, I roll my eyes. “Yeah. Har har. Be right back.”
“I’m good here. I already know exactly what I’m doing.”
Nodding, I don’t offer an answer as I head out the door. I know I was going to fix it myself, but Kash seems pretty confident in his abilities, so I’m going to trust him. What could possibly go wrong?